July 2004 - Chewton.net

A GOLD VEIN FLOWING THROUGH GENERATIONS
In 1954 CHARLES THOMAS JESSER immigrated from England with his wife and family, to South Australia, finally
settling in Chewton, Victoria. The Jesser name has been closely linked with the Central Victorian goldfields to the
present day. Family heirlooms held by the family are gold scales and a personal seal. This seal carries Charles
Jesser’s insignia, inlaid on a quartz background, linked to a gold fobchain. His grave site, bearing a significant headstone,
is surrounded by a wrought iron guard in the Chewton cemetery. “Flash Charlie” ( Charlie’s nickname) made his
fortune in the Gold rush days on Forest Creek, in Chewton. Alluvial gold found here brought its own rewards. He built
and invested in a general store which still stands today.
His daughter, Mary Ottery, later followed in his footsteps, building a family store over the road. The Jesser name is
stamped on many original land titles in the district. Charles Jesser’s son ROBERT was born in 1860 at Chewton. In
the1880’s he continued the gold adventure, walking from Chewton to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, seeking
his fortune in gold. He became lost in the outback, and was rescued by Aborigines. A boundary rider guided him to
Darwin. Suffering from Sandy Blight, he was brought back to Sydney by bullock wagon. He remained blind until he
died at the age of 94 years. He taught himself Braille and broadened his education.
His son, CHARLES VINCENT, was born in 1888. He started working life as a 12 year old, at the Garfield Mine in
Chewton as a battery boy. As an adult he worked as a shaft sinker at Chewton’s Wattle Gully and East Nimrod mines
in the 1930’s. He also worked at the May Queen mine at Drummond. Using his craft he also quarried stone at
Harcourt for the Shrine in Melbourne. He died an early death of Miner’s Complaint at 52, as the dust destroyed his
lungs.
LEONARD HERBERT was born in 1916. He worked with his father, also as a miner. They had a close relationship.
While living at Kyneton the pair cycled to the Annie Laurie Mine at Taradale, daily covering a distance of 30 km. to
work. During the depression era, mining was drawing to a close and Len secured a job with the shire. He installed the
sewerage works and then managed them for 30 years until his retirement. Gold still dominated his leisure time, sinking
shafts with mates at promising sites and fossicking in local creeks.
The final chapter in the gold mining family history has centred on IAN LEONARD JESSER, born in 1946 at Kyneton.
He is the great, great, grand son of Charles Thomas. Upholding the family tradition, Ian has carved out his own mining
history while working full time in the heavy engineering industry. He worked in various mines during the 1980’s; Wattle
Gully at Chewton and Williams United in Bendigo. He did this to obtain his mine manager’s certificate, explosives
permit and winch operator’s certificate. Ian also worked for Planet Resources as a prospector. He then concentrated
on researching and re-opening the Cornish and Spanish reef at Fryerstown working as an independent, single handed
miner for 13 years. His mining endeavours have been documented in the Minerals and Energy of Victoria 100 year
of Geological Survey of Victoria 1995. Ian was also involved in work with the Melbourne Museum. He used his
mining and explosives experience assisting them to uncover fossils at Dinosaur Cove, west of Apollo Bay. These were
shown on the ABC documentary video “Mutterburrasaurus”. His lifetime interest in the quest for gold is now spent
prospecting at many sites in the rich gold area of Dunolly. Gold, once in the blood, stays with you through the generations.
Complied by Ian and Helen Jesser, 13 Thomas Street, Dunolly 3472. Ph. 54681944. Forwarded by Felix Cappy.
Friday 2nd July...Chewton Town Hall
A gathering to mark the PO changeover...
...farewell and thanks to Max and Rosalie
...welcome to Andrea and Sandy
You are invited...can you come along?
CASTLEMAINE FIELD NATS
Visitors welcome at Field Naturalist meetings/excursions.
Fri. Jul. 9. Kimberleys. Chris Morris. UCA Hall, 8pm.
Sat. Jul. 10. Native Street Trees. Leader: Ern Perkins,
Ph 54723124. Inc. launch of the Native Street Trees
leaflet. Driving, then walking. Leave the Octopus at
1.30 sharp.
Sat. Jul. 24. Roadside Clean-up. Meet by Tait’s
Carriages, Pyrenees Highway, Castlemaine at 8.30am.
Gloves, garbage bags and red safety vests supplied.
Wear sturdy footwear.
Sat. Jul. 31, Sun. Aug. 1. National Swift Parrot and
Regent Honeyeater Survey. Details at July Meeting
Committee - Chris Morris (President) Ph. 9885 4221, Rita Mills
(Vice President and Public Officer) Ph. 54724553, George
Broadway (Secretary) Ph. 5472 2513, Hans van Gemert
(Treasurer) Ph. 5472 1082, Geraldine Harris (Newsletter Ed.)
Ph. 5474 2244, Ern Perkins Ph. 5472 3124, Richard Piesse,
Athol Dorman and Nigel Harland. Castlemaine Field
Naturalists Club Inc., PO Box 324, Castlemaine, 3450.